The Ottawa Redblacks have signed five players, including Canadian offensive lineman Connor Berglof, American running back Sirgeo Hoffman, American receiver Siaiso Mariner, American receiver Seantavius Jones, and American receiver Ventell Bryant.
Berglof was selected in the third round, 24th overall, in the 2021 CFL Draft out of the University of Saskatchewan. The six-foot-three, 300-pound blocker has experience at centre and guard and was named a first-team All-Canadian in 2019 and a second-team All-Canadian in 2021 as a member of the Huskies.
Hoffman rushed 143 times for 769 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 18 passes for 179 yards in 2019 while at Portland State. He originally started his collegiate career at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. where he rushed for 609 yards and six touchdowns. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals after going unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Mariner spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2020) and Baltimore Ravens (2021) after going unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft. He caught 115 passes at Utah (2015-18) and Utah State (2019) for 1,772 and 14 touchdowns in 49 games. He received Second-Team All-Mountain West honours in 2019 in his redshirt senior season.
Jones went unselected in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Valdosta State and spent five years in the league as a member of the New Orleans Saints (2014-15), Philadelphia Eagles (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2016-17), and Indianapolis Colts (2018). He has since played for the Atlanta Legends of the AAF (2019), Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL (2020), and Berlin Thunder of the ELF (2021).
Bryant signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019 before joining the Dallas Cowboys. He dressed for 12 games with the team and made one catch for 15 yards but was waived the following year before joining the Carolina Panthers. He was suspended for two games in 2021 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
